Coaster with sidewalls that seal the can&#39;s circumference

ABSTRACT

A coaster type device having a base with or without an integrated boss, the base is attached to side walls that end in a seal around the can&#39;s circumference. The combination of the coaster being made of one piece without openings and the seal around the circumference of the can allows it to trap the rust in the coaster even when under direct water. This allows the device to be used in a daily routine where a product is normally placed for use such as a shaving cream can in the shower under direct water or a bug spray left outside on a table in the rain.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent applicationSer. No. 62/222,386, filed 2015 Sep. 23 by the present inventors.

BACKGROUND

Metal cans rust when placed in direct contact with water, or whenresiding in moist environments. Rust on the bottom of the can transfersto the surface it has been placed on, leaving rust stains behind. Manycoaster devices are known in the an for collecting condensation orholding various vessels and or containers. However, none of them sealthe circumference of a can and are of one piece without any openings.The invention has a base with or without an integrated boss, with sidewalls that end in a seal around the can's circumference trapping therust in and blocking direct water from entering. This allows the deviceto be used in a daily routine where a product is normally placed for usesuch as a shaving cream can in the shower under direct water or a bugspray left outside on a table in the rain. Most consumers resort toplacing their shaving cream can on something to avoid the rust stainsfrom transferring directly to their tub or the or they simply don'tleave their shaving cream can in the shower. The process of placing theshaving cream can on something that does not seal the circumference ofthe can does not contain the rust. Direct water on a metal acts as acatalyst to rust causing the can to rust faster. Consumers had beeninstructed to throw the shaving cream cans away when rust started toappear, in order to prevent the can from transferring rust onto thesurface it was placed on, hence wasting consumer dollars.

U.S. Pat No. 1,957,263 to Gray (1934) describes a coaster designed tocatch the condensation in the bottom of the coaster via an absorbentmaterial. This absorbent material would cause a metal can to rust whencondensation or water entered the coaster through the spaced apartgripping tongues.

U.S. Pat No. 5,842,675 to Davitt (1998) describes a coaster designedthat is of flexible material that stretches to fit over the can bottom.

U.S. Pat No. 2,727,645A to Dore (1955) describes a coaster designed tocatch the condensation in the bottom of the coaster via an alternatinglip followed by an opening. The lip holds the glass in place and theopening allows for the condensation to drip down the glass into thecoater. If water can get into the coaster it can bellow out of thecoaster.

U.S. Pat No. 4,040,549 to Sadler (1977) describes a coaster designed tohold a car cup. The coaster has vertical slots for the cup to insertinto. The vertical slots allow for water to enter.

U.S. Pat No. 5,143,249 to Gavle (1992) describes a coaster designed tostabilize a container with liquids in it. This coaster is open at thetop and open at the bottom, allowing rust from the bottom of a can totransfer to the surface it is placed on.

U.S. Pat No. 6,511,031 to Lin (2003) herein describes a coaster designedto hold a coffee cup. Coaster has a built in weep hole to allowcondensation to escape. This weep hole would allow for rust to escape aswell.

U.S. Pat No. US20110198473 to McDonough filed (2011) was abandoned. Itdescribes a coaster designed to seal the vertical side of the can.

None of the above mentioned prior art seals the circumference of thecan, trapping rust in and keeping water out of the coaster. None of theabove includes a boss. The devices in the above references do not solvethe problem of the transfer of rust from the bottom of a can to thesurface on which it sits, when used in a person's daily routine wherethe product would normally be placed such as the shower. Further, noneof the related prior art provides for a coaster with sidewalls that endin a top seal that goes all the way around the can without breaches. Itis this top seal that keeps the can's rust in the coaster.

Another object of the present invention would provide a device which isreusable and dishwasher safe. Many consumers prefer to dispose of arusted can with some remaining product, then have to scrub rust stainsleft behind from a rusting can. This behavior is wasteful and costly tothe consumer. This low cost household item solves these issues.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a coaster device for collecting and trappingrust that forms on the bottom of metal cans. Described herein is acoaster made of one piece with sidewalls that end in a top seal whichgoes around the circumference of the can without breaches, preventingstreaming water from entering the coaster and coming in contact with thecan. The seal around the can retains any rust on the bottom of the canfrom coming out of the coaster. This seal requires that the inventionincludes a boss in the center of the base to prevent the bottom of thecoaster from pushing on the fill valve on the bottom of cans, with thatdesign. In the instances where the can has a bottom fill valve and whenthe shaving cream can button is pressed, air is sucked through the valvepulling air out of the coaster producing a negative pressure situation.Without the boss, the atmospheric pressure on the outside of the coasterpushes the bottom of the coaster up pressing into the fill valve, if acan has one, which could empty the can of its contents.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a coaster typedevice that the user can place a metal can into and leave it in theshower under direct water without having to worry that the water willrust the bottom of the can and transfer the rust to the user's surfacesor bellow over the top of an unsealed coaster. Many people shave in theshower and it would be convenient to leave a shaving cream can in theshower where they use it. This sealing coaster keeps water out of thecoaster where the rust prone can sits, while trapping the rust thatforms on metal cans inside the coaster.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG.1 shows a cross section of the coaster with a boss, side walls and atop seal.

FIG. 2 shows a cross section of the coaster with side walls, a top seal,without a boss.

FIG. 3 shows a coaster with a boss, side walls and a top seal placed ona can with a fill valve.

FIG.4 shows a coaster side walls and a top seal placed on a can withouta fill valve or a boss.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the coaster with a boss

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the coaster without a boss

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS

10 bottom

11 boss

12 sides

13 top seal (seals around circumference of can)

14 fill valve of can

15 metal can

16 push button on can

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides people with the means to prevent rust marks fromforming on their surfaces by placing a coaster type device on the bottomof cans that rust. This coaster type device is made of one piece with abottom (10) with or without a boss (11), side walls (12) and a top (13)that seals the circumference of the can (16). This design allows peopleto keep their shaving cream cans in the shower, under water without anyrust transferring from the can to the surface or rust overflowing from acoaster that does not seal all the way around the can. It allows peopleto leave bug spray cans out on their patios in the rain without the fearof rust marks appearing on the surface it was placed on or rustoverflowing from a coaster that does not seal all the way around thecan.

The present invention can be constructed in various sizes, colors anddesigns. The material used to make this coaster would be plastic of adurometer rigid enough to hold its design form overtime. The materialused to seal the circumference of the can would be of a durometer thatcould be flexible enough to deflect on application and removal but willform a seal and frictional fit to keep streaming water from entering acoaster that is on a can when in direct contact with the water.

When manufactured the coaster could be made utilizing a singular plasticor a multi shot plastic injection molding operation. In the method ofmanufacture that involves multiple materials the invention could bemanufactured in a manner that would cause the two materials to bond to adegree higher than just mechanical bonding or the multiple materialscould be made in separate operations. In the case of manufacturing inseparate operations the materials could be assembled mechanically andheld together by a physical interface or by adhesives, both scenarioswould ensure proper sealing as described in the specification. Thissealing material would be of a durometer that would be flexible enoughto deflect on application and removal but would form a seal andfrictional fit to keep the invention on the can. In both manufacturingcases the material selection would provide proper barrier properties, tobe non-abrasive to the surface it is used on and non-corrosive to thecan. The invention could be produced using plastic injection molding,machining or other thermoplastics methods.

Description—FIG. 1—Cross Section-Coaster with Boss

FIG. 1 is a cross section of the coaster which consists of fourelements. The base (10) of the coaster which has a boss (11) built intothe center of it. The base (10) has side walls (12) attached, with a topseal (13). This top seal goes all the way around the can sealing it. Theseal blocks water from entering the coaster and coming in contact withthe bottom of the can (15) in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.

Description—FIG. 2—Cross Section-Coaster without Boss

FIG. 2 is a cross section of the coaster which consists of threeelements. The base (10) has side walls (12) attached, with a top seal(13). This top seal goes all the way around the can sealing it. The sealblocks water from entering the coaster and coming in contact with thebottom of the can (15) in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.

Description—FIG. 3—Cross Section-Can with a Coaster On It with Boss

FIG. 3 is a cross section of a can (15) that has a fill valve (14) withthe coaster on it. Many metal cans (15) have concave bottoms with fillvalves (14) in the center. The top of the coaster seals (13) thecircumference of the can. The base (10) is connected to the seal (13)via the coasters side walls (12). When the release button is depressedon a can with a fill valve (14), assuming the seal (13) on the can doesseal the can, air will be sucked up the can through the fill valve (14)causing the base (10) of the flexible coaster to be pulled upwardspressing on the fill valve (14) and in turn causing the contents of thecan (15) to empty via the fill valve (14), in the case where there isnot a boss present. The boss (11) which is attached to the base (10)prevents the base from being pulled up and depressing the fill valve(14).

Description—FIG. 4—Cross Cection-Can with a Coaster On It Without Boss

FIG. 4 is a cross section of a can (15) that has a fill valve (14) withthe coaster on it. The top of the coaster seals (13) the circumferenceof the can. The base (10) is connected to the seal (13) via the coastersside walls (12).

1. A coaster type device for holding a metal can comprising: a base withconnected side walls that end with an outward extension that comes incontact with a can whereby said outward extension seals thecircumference of said can
 2. The coaster of claim 1, wherein saidcoaster is made of a flexible plastic.
 3. The coaster of claim 1 whereinsaid coaster is made of one piece without breaches.
 4. The coaster ofclaim 1 wherein said outward extension creates an offset between saidsidewall and said can.
 5. A coaster type device for holding a metal cancomprising: a base with a centrally located protrusion of a closed shapewith a hollow inside (boss), said base has surrounding side walls thatend in a rim which extends inward, coming in contact with said can tocreate a seal around said can's circumference.
 6. The coaster of claim5, wherein said coaster is made of a flexible plastic.
 7. The coaster ofclaim 5, wherein said coaster is made of one piece without breaches. 8.The coaster of claim 5, wherein said outward extension creates an offsetbetween said sidewall and said can.